Nonsurge means



May 27, 1947. GR|$WQLD 2,421,325

NONSURGE MEANS Filed Oct. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Patented May 27, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NON SURGE MEANS bra, Calif.

Application October 14, 1942, Serial No. 461,977

21 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid pumping systems wherein a quantity of air or gaseous fluid precedes the flow of liquid. More specifically, the invention relates to non-surge means for use in such systems, whereby all surging in the system due to starting of the pump is eliminated.

The pumping system of the present invention includes a deep well pump (which may be of the centrifugal type), a, service check valve (which may be conventional) connected with the outlet of said pump and with a pipe line, a novel hydraulically operated non-surge valve also connected with the outlet of said pump and with the atmosphere, and automatic control means for effecting the opening and closing of said nonsurge valve.

In pumping systems of the general character mentioned, when the pump is idle, air finds its way into the pump casing above the liquid level as well as the portion of the system between the pump and the checkyalve. In order to prevent surges in the system when the pump is again started, the sudden excess pressure built up by the pump in the line between the pump and check valve must be relieved until the inertia of the water in the main pipe line is gradually overcome. It is also desirable to eliminate the air (and sand in some instances) which is delivered When the pump is first started and prevent its introduction into the system.

The non-surge means comprising the present invention is adapted to be so associated with the pump and service check valve that it will automatically vent to the atmosphere the air or gaseous fluid which precedes the flow of liquid from the well when the pump is started. The control for the non-surge valve is arranged so that said valve is always open at the time that the pump is started. Consequently, there is no pressure between the pump and the check and non-surge valves. The pump, therefore, pumps the air into the atmosphere through the open non-surge valve before any water reaches said valve. In view of the fact that the resistance to the flow of water through the valve is much greater than the resistance to the flow of air, the flow of water through the non-surge valve is restricted and a hydraulic back-pressure is built up on the inlet side of said non-surge valve. This hydraulic pressure is utilized to operate a pressure-responsive device associated with a pilot valve which controls the admission and exhaust of operating liquid under pressure to the non-surge valve so as to control the opening and closing of said non-surge valve. The control means is such 2 that the non-surge valve is caused to close gradually so that liquid flow therethrough will taper oii until the valve closes drip tight. As the pressure builds up on the inlet side of the non-surge valve it gradually overcomes the resistance to flow offered by the check valve and said check valve eventually opens to permit the liquid to be pumped directly into the pipe line. Thus, the non-surge valve does two things: First, it eliminates or vents all air or gas from the system, and second, it .prevents all surging in the system due to starting the pump.

Another feature of the non-surge valve is that it can be constructed to serve as a pressure relief valve in the event that excessive hydraulic pressure is built up by the pump, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The principal object of the invention is to provide non-surge means for use in pumping systems wherein a quantity of air or gaseous fluid precedes the flow of liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pumping system in which all surges are eliminated due to the starting of the pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic non-surge valve which is normally open when the pump is started and gradually closes as the pump builds up hydraulic pressure on the inlet side of said valve, and which again opens after the pump has stopped, so that said valve is open to vent air upon the next starting operation of the pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic valve means that will serve the dual purpose of an air vent and a hydraulic pressure release.

Another object of the invention is to provide a non-surge valve and automatic control means therefor which will permit said valve to remain open as long as air is being pumped therethrough, efiect closing of said valve upon pumping of liquid therethrough, and effect opening of said valve upon the building up of excessive pressure on the inlet side of said valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a non-surge valve and automatic control means for said valve which will efiect closing of said valve when a pre-determined hydraulic pressure is built up by the pump on the inlet side of said valve.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a non-surge valve having control means which will eiiect closing of said valve at a predetermined rate, regardless of the rate at which pressure is built up by the pump.

A further object of the invention is to provide a non-surge valve and control means which is responsive only to a predetermined hydraulic pressure on the inlet side of said valve.

A still further object of the invention is to pro-- vide a non-surge valve and control means for said valve including an adjustable element for varying the pressure at which closing of the non-surge valve can be effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a non-surge valve including means for limitin the extent of opening of said non-surge valve to assure building up of hydraulic pressure sufiicient to effect closing of said non-surge valve irrespective of the capacity of the pump with which it is associated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic pressure operable non-surge valve and control means for said valve including a pressure-responsive device and pilot valve actuated by said device, together with means for preventing the opening of said non-surge valve due to a momentary drop in pressure on the inlet side of said non-surge valve.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a pumping system embodying a non-surge valve and control means constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the non-surge valve and the automatic control means for said valve, said valve and control means being shown in the positions which they occupy when the pump is idle;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the non-surge valve and the control means in the positions they occupy when the pump has built up sufiicient hydraulic pressure on the inlet side of the non-surge valve to efiect closing of said valve;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and particularly illustrating the porting of the pilot disc of the pilot valve;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a modified form of porting for the pilot disc which will adapt the non-surge valve of Figs. 2 and 3 to also serve as a hydraulic pressure relief valve; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified spring arrangement for use with a control device employing the pilot disc of Fig. 5.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the

numeral I generally indicates a motor driven centrifugal pump which is mounted upon a well casing l and connected by any suitable piping 2 with a non-surge valve 3 and control means for said valve generally indicated by the letters X and P. A conventional or known type of service check valve 4 has an inlet chamber 5 connected with the piping 2 and an outlet chamber 6 connected with a pipe line 1.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the non-surge valve 3 includes a body B, a cover C, and a circular diaphragm D whose marginal portion is clamped between the body B and the cover C by any suitable number of conventional stud bolts l2. The body B is provided with a, substantially vertical partition wall 53 which cooperates with an inclined wall portion M to provide inlet and outlet chambers I5 and H3, respectively, in said body. The wall portions l3 and M are merged to provide a circular opening which. is threaded and adapted to receive an annu ar valve seat I1.

The valve seat H is provided with a circular opening I8 through which water or other liquid can pass in traveling from the inlet chamber IE to the outlet chamber Hi. The valve seat includes radial arms l9 which extend downwardly and terminate in a portion 20 which serves as a guide for the lower end of a valve stem 2|. The lower extremity of the valve stem is reduced and shouldered to receive a washer 22 which forms a seat for one end of a compression spring 23. The opposite end of the spring 23 is received in a cavity 24 formed in a plug 25 threaded into the body B.

The cover member C is provided with a central boss portion 25 counterbored to receive a guide bushing '21 for the upper end of the valve stem 2|. The guide bushing 21 is arranged so that it is in axial alignment with the guide portion 20 on the valve seat IT. The valve stem 2| carries follower plates 28 and 29 disposed on opposite sides of the diaphragm D. The valve stem 2| also carries a circular member 3|! provided with an annular groove 3| containing a sealing ring 32 adapted to engage the upper edge of the valve seat H. The sealing ring 32 is retained in the groove 3| by a clamping member 33. The valve stem 2| has threaded portions as indicated at 34 and 35 and nuts 36 are threaded upon said portions and clamp the followers 28 and 29, the circular member 30 and the clamping member 33 in place upon said valve stem.

The boss 26 on the cover member C has a threaded opening 4|] adapted to receive one end of a plug 4|. The plug 4| is internally threaded as indicated at 42 for the reception of a travel limiting screw 43, the lower portion of which is threaded and the upper portion of which is plain and slotted so that it can be turned by a screwdriver. The plug 4| is counterbored as indicated at 44 and packing 45 is received in said counterbore in surrounding relation to the plain portion of the limiting screw 43. A packing gland 45 is arranged to compress the packing 45 into sealing engagement with said plain portion of the limiting screw 43 to form a seal against leakage. A cap 41 is slipped over the upper end of the limiting screw 43 and engages the gland 45. The cap 41 engages threads 48 formed upon the exterior of the plug 4|, whereby the gland 46 can be forced downwardly and held in place to compress the packing 45.

The purpose of the screw 43 is to limit the upward movement of the valve stem 2| and thus limit the extent of opening of the non-surge valve 3. The non-surge valve 3 is thus adaptable for use with pumps of varying capacity, inasmuch as it will be apparent that if said valve is permitted to open to such an extent'that the flow therethrough is equal to the capacity of the pump no substantial fluid pressure can be built up between the non-surge valve 3 and the pump Hence, by setting the limiting screw 43 in accordance with the capacity of the pump the nonsurge valve 3 can be adjusted to limit its extent or opening so that a suitable back-pressure will be developed to effect closing of the main valve, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The cover member C is provided with a main diaphragm chamber 50' adapted to receive operating fluid under pressure for actuating the diaphragm D to efiect closing of the non-surge valve 3. The operating fluid under pressure is admitted into the chamber 50 through a passageway 5| formed in the boss 26. The admission of operating fluid into the passageway 5| is controlled by a pressure-responsive device generally indicated by the letter X and including a pilot valve P, both of which will be described in detail hereinafter.

Operating fluid under pressure for effecting closing of the non-surge valve 3 is derived from the inlet chamber 15 of said valve. Thus, a conduit 52 is connected at one end thereof to the body B as indicated at 53 and the opposite end of said conduit is connected as indicated at 54 to the housing 55 of the pilot valve P. The conduit 52 includes a conventional needle valve 56 for controlling the rate of flow of operating fluid to a pressure chamber 51 in the pilot valve housing 55. A pilot disc 58 is received in the pressure chamber 51 and the lower face thereof seats upon a base member 59 which forms a closure for the pressure chamber 51. A pilot drive shaft 68 carries a drive washer 68 having pins 68 received in apertures 68 in the pilot disc 58 for effecting rotation of said pilot disc.

The pilot disc 58 includes a U-shaped exhaust passageway 6|, one leg of which registers with a port 62 in the base 59 and the other leg of which registers with an axial port 63 formed in said base. As will be apparent from Fig. 2, when the exhaust passage 6| interconnects the ports 62 and 63 in the base 59, operating fluid can be exhausted from the diaphragm chamber 58 through a conduit 64 which interconnects the passage 5| and the port 62 and a drain conduit 65 which communicates with the port 63.

The pilot disc 56 is also provided with a through-passage 66 (see Figs 3 and 4), which when placed in registration with the port 62 will permit operating fluid under pressure to flow through the conduit 64 and the passage 5| into the diaphragm chamber 58 to effect closing of the non-surge valve 3. The through-passage 66 and the exhaust passage 6| are positioned on radii at an angle of about 60 to each other so that it is only necessary to rotate the pilot shaft 68 through an angle of 60 to position said passages of the pilot disc 58 to effect either opening or closing of the main valve 3. The rotation of the pilot shaft 68 through the necessary angle is effected by the pressure-responsive device X which will now b described.

The pressure-responsive device X includes a casing 69 provided with a chamber 18 and a cover plate 1| which forms a closure for said chamber. The upper end of the pilot shaft 68 projects into the chamber 18 and through the cover plate 1|. A pinion 12 is secured against rotation relative to the shaft 68 by any conventional means. The teeth on the pinion 12 are engaged with ridges 73 formed upon a reciprocable rod 14. The ridges l3 convert a portion of the rod 14 into a rack effective to impart turning movement to the pinion l2 and the pilot disc shaft 68 which is secured to said pinion.

The rod 14 is supported in the casing 69 in bushings l5 and 16, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. One end of the rod 14 carries a circular plate 11 which engages one side of a flexible diaphragm 18. The diaphragm 18 is marginally secured secured between a flange 19 formed on the casing 69 and a flange 88 formed upon a cover plate 8|, the cover plate 8| being mounted upon the casing 69 by a suitable number of screws 82.

The casing 69 is also provided with an internally threaded annular flange 83 adapted to receive one end of a pipe nipple 84. The opposite end of the pipe nipple 88 is received in an internally threaded cap member 85. A helical compression spring 86 is received within the pipe nipple 84 and one end of said spring rests against a washer 81 mounted upon a shouldered end 88 of the rod 14. The opposite end of the spring 86 engages a washer 89 abutting against the extremity of an adjusting bolt 98', threadedly mounted in the cap 85. The bolt 98 is adapted to be adjusted to vary the compression of the spring 86 and can be locked in any desired position of adjustment by a lock nut 9| arranged to be jammed against the cap 85.

The function of the spring 86 is to urge the rod 14 to its left-most position as viewed in Fig. 2 so that the pilot disc 58 will normally be in a position with the U-shaped exhaust passage 6| registering with the ports 62 and 63, whereby the non-surge valve will be permitted to open, the spring 23 urging the valve stem 2| upwardly to displace spent operating fluid from the chamber 58 to effect opening of the valve.

Fluid under pressure for actuating the pressure-responsive device X is derived from the inlet chamber |5 of the non-surge valve 3 through a conduit 95, one end 96 of which is connected with the body B and the other end 91 of which is secured to the cover 8| of said pressure-responsive device. A one-way check valve 96 is connected in the conduit to permit a rapid flow of liquid under pressure into a diaphragm chamber 99 formed in the cover 8|. A flap |88 in the check valve 98 prevents a like flow in the opposite direction. However, in the event that a reduced or lower pressure occurs in the inlet chamber |5 fluid can be exhausted from the diaphragm chamber 99 by means of a by-pass |8| formed in the check valve 98, the flow through the by-pass |8| being controlled by a needle valve I82. Also, in case a momentary pressure drop occurs in the system, the non-surge valve 3 will not open because the restricted passage |8| prevents sudden release of pressure fluid from diaphragm chamber 99.

The shifting of the pilot disc 58 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 is effected by the application of hydraulic pressure fluid to the diaphragm 18 transmitted through the conduit 95 from the inlet chamber l5 of the non-surge valve 3. The diaphragm chamber 99 receives the fluid under pressure from the conduit 95 and this pressure fluid causes the diaphragm 18 to flex toward the right thereby effecting shifting of the rod 14 to the right as viewed in Fig. 3.

The adjustment of the spring 86 determines the hydraulic pressure that will be required upon the diaphragm 18 to overcome the force exerted by said spring before shifting of the rod 14 can take place. In any event, the adjustment of the spring 86 is such that the pressure of the air forced through the non-surge valve 3, should it find its way past the check valve I88 when the pump is started, is insufficient to effect movement of the rod 14 to the right. The movement of the rod 14 toward the right under the influence of hydraulic pressure is limited by the engagement of the plate 1'! with the adjacent wall surface of the casing 69, and the movement of said rod toward the left is limited by the engagement of the washer 81 with the adjacent end wall surface of said casing. Thus, the stroke of the rod 14 is definitely limited in both directions of travel so that the pilot disc 58 is turned to exactly the right angle necessary to position the passage 6| and 66 in cooperating relation with the ports 62 and 63 in the base 59.

The mode of operation of the non-surge valve 3 in association with the centrifugal pump I and the check valve 4 is as follows: When the pump I is started, there is no pressure in the piping 2 because normally at such time the non-surge valve 3 is open to the full extent permitted by the adjustment of the limiting screw 43, the spring 23 maintaining said valve in such open positions, as shown in Fig. 2. Upon starting of the pump I, all of the air in the well casing I is pumped out ahead of the liquid and can escape to the atmosphere through the open nonsurge valve 3. However, as soon as the pump i begins to lift water or other liquid and the Water or other liquid starts to flow through the opening I8 in the non-surge valve 3 a pressure will be built up in the inlet chamber 15 of said valve because the resistance to the flow of liquid through said valve seat opening is greater than the resistance to the flow of air. The amount of back-pressure that will be built up in the inlet chamber I will be determined by the capacity of the pump I and the extent to which the nonsurge valve 3 is permitted to open by the limit screw 43. Obviously, as the pressure builds up in the inlet chamber I5 it will be communicated through the conduit 95 to the diaphragm chamber 99 of the pressure-responsive device X, and when said fluid pressure exceeds the predetermined opposing force offered by the spring 86, said spring will be compressed, the rod 14 shifted to the right and the pilot disc 58 turned from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 to permit closing of the non-surge valve 3. Simultaneous with the building up of pressure in the inlet chamber I5, operating fluid under pressure will be conducted through the conduit 52 into the pressure chamber 51 of the pilot valve P and will be available to pass through the passage 66 to efiect closing of the main or non-surge valve 3 upon shifting of said passage into alignment with the port 62 in the base 59. The needle valve 56 in the conduit 52, of course, will control the rate at which operating fluid under pressure can pass into the pilot disc pressure chamber 51. Hence, the needle valve 56 will control the rate at which the non-surge valve 3 will close, because operating fluid can only be supplied to the main diaphragm chamber 50 at the rate permitted by the adjustment or said needle valve.

Upon closing of the non-surge valve 3 pressure will be gradually built up between the pump I and the check valve 4, said pressure eventually overcoming the pressure in the line I and effecting opening of the check valve 4 to permit the pumped fluid to pass into the distribution system. A gradual building up of pressure necessarily occurs because of the gradual closing of the non-surge valve 3, it being understood that while said non-surge valve is closing the volume of liquid discharged therefrom gradually diminishes until said valve is closed drip-tight. The gaseous fluid and later the liquid can be discharged from the valve 3 either to the atmosphere into a suitable drain.

After the pump I has been shut down, pressure is no longer maintained between said pump and the check valve 4 and the liquid can drain back into the well casing I. This will reduce the pressure in the inlet chamber I5 of the nonsurge valve 3 with the result that the pressure in the diaphragm chamber 99 is no longer maintalned. The spring 85 then reacts upon the diaphragm 18 through the rod It dispelling the spent operating fluid from said chamber and returning it to the inlet chamber I5 of the valve 3, the return however occurring through the conduit and the by-pass channel I! in the check valve 98, and the rate of return being controlled by the needle valve I02. When the spent operating fluid has been exhausted from the chamber 99 to an extent sufficient for the rod I4 to have returned to its initial position, the exhaust passageway SI will be placed in registration with the ports 62 and 63 (see Fig. 3) in the base 59 so that the operating fluid from the main diaphragm chamber 50 of the non-surge valve 3 can then drain through the conduit 64, passage 6| and conduit 65 to the atmosphere thereby permitting said non-surge valve to open. The draining of the spent operating fluid from the main diaphragm chamber 50 is facilitated by the spring 23 which urges the valve stem 2I upwardly to facilitate opening of the main valve and to hold said main valve open in the absence of pressure fluid in said chamber.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of pilot disc I II) which may be substituted in the pilot valve P for the pilot disc 58 presently shown and afford the additional function and advantage of making the non-surge valve serve as a pressure relief valve. The pilot disc IiIl, as distinguished from the pilot disc 58, includes two U-shaped exhaust passages III and H2 instead of one and a single through passage I I3. The spacing of the passages III to H3 may be upon any desired angle, say about 30, but is preferably such as not to require excessive shifting of the rod 14 in either direction.

The function of the exhaust passage H2 and the through passage H3 is the same as that of the exhaust passage BI and the through passage 66. However, the additional exhaust passage III will permit the non-surge valve to open again in the event that an excessive hydraulic pressure is built up in the piping 2, particularly if a positive displacement pump is used instead of the centrifugal pump I.

Fig. 6 illustrates a portion of a modified form of the pressure-responsive device X including a supplemental or relief spring H5, the force of which must be overcome before the non-surge valve 3 can be opened to relieve excess hydraulic pressure. Thus, it will be understood from the hereinabove description of the mode of operation of the pilot valve 58 that closing of the non-surge valve 3 will be effected when the through-passage H3 is aligned with the port 62 in the base 59. Such aligning occurs upon overcoming of the force offered by a, spring 86*, corresponding to the spring 86. In the event that excessive hydraulic pressure is developed in the inlet chamber I5 of the non-surge valve 3, said pressure will be communicated to the diaphragm chamber 99 and tend to move a rod I4 corresponding to the rod I4, farther toward the right. One end of the spring 86 seats upon a. washer 81 carried by a reduced extension 38 of the rod I4 Upon engagement of the washer 8'1 with a washer I I6 slidably carried upon the extension 88, further resistance to said movement of the rod 74 is presented by the relief spring I I5, one end of which is connected to the washer H6, and which spring must be overcome in order to effect opening of the valve 3 to relieve the excess hydraulic pressure developed by the pump I. Compression of the relief spring H5 and the accompanying shifting movement of the rod 14*- through a predetermined distance will cause rotation of the pilot shaft 60 through an angle sufficient to index the exhaust passage H! with the port 62 and permit the valve 3 to open and thereby relieve any excess pressure.

The springs 86 and I I5 are adapted to be independently adjusted to respectively determine the pressure at which the valve 3 will close after the pump I has started and the pressure at which the valve 3 will automatically open upon the development of excess pump pressure. Thus, the spring 86 can be adjusted by an externally threaded sleeve I I! mounted in a cap 85*, similar to the cap 85, and carrying a spring engaging washer 89 The sleeve II! has a hexagonal portion IIB enabling the same to be readily adjusted by a wrench. A look nut 9| locks the sleeve I I! in adjusted position relative to the cap 85. The sleeve I I! is internall threaded to receive a bolt H9 carrying a washer I20 on its inner end engaged with one end of the relief spring H5. A lock nut I2I locks the screw H9 in adjusted position relative to the sleeve In.

As the excess pressure is being relieved through the valve 3, the pressure in the diaphragm chamber 99 also will be relieved and the pilot disc III) will be returned to a position with the passage I I3 aligned with the port 62 and the non-surge valve 3 will automatically close. Upon stopping of the pump a further pressure drop occurs and the pilot disc III! is returned to its starting position with the exhaust passage H2 aligned with the port 62 thereby permitting the non-surge valve 3 to open in preparation for the next starting cycle of the pump I. Thus, by using a pilot disc such as the disc III] the non-surge valve 3 can be made to serve not only as an air vent when the pump I is started, but also as a pressure relief valve to prevent the building up of excessive hydraulic pressure between the pump I and the service check valve 4.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the details of construction of the non-surge valve 3 and its associated control mechanism without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of gaseous fluid precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of a pump; a service check valve having its inlet connected with the discharge side of said pump and its outlet in communication with a pipe line; a fluid pressure operable nonsurge valve connected with the outlet of said pump; and a pilot valve controlling said nonsurge valve arranged to control said non-surge valve to automatically vent said gaseous fluid to the atmosphere when said pump is started to preelude said gaseous fluid from getting past said service check valve and into said pipe line and to effect the building up of sufiicient hydraulic back pressure to cause flow through said service check valve after said pump has started to pump said liquid.

2. Pumping apparatus for pumping liquid from a well or the like wherein the flow of liquid is preceded by a quantity of air, comprising: a pump; a one-way check valve; a non-surge valve, each of said valves having an inlet chamber connected with the outlet of said pump; and control means for said non-surge valve, said control means including pilot valve means for controlling said non-surge valve in response to a predetermined hydraulic pressure on the inlet side of said non-surge valve to effect closing of said nonsurge valve, said check valve being arranged to open upon closing of said non-surge valve.

3. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of gaseous fluid precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of: a pump; a service valve; a non-surge valve, said service valve and said nonsurge valve being connected with the outlet of said pump; and automatic control means independent of said non-surge valve for controlling said non-surge valve, said automatic control means being arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open while said gaseous fluid is being pumped through said non-surge valve and to effect closing of said non-surge valve when said pump starts to pump said liquid through said non-surge valve.

4. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of gaseous fluid precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of: a pump; a service valve; a non-surge valve, said service valve and said nonsurge valve being connected with the outlet of said pump; and automatic control means for said non-surge valve, said automatic control means including pilot valve means arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open while said gaseous fluid is being pumped through said nonsurge valve and to effect closing of said nonsurge valve when said pump starts to pump said liquid through said non-surge valve, said pilot valve means further being arranged to allow opening of said non-surge valve after said pump has stopped pumping said liquid.

5. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of gaseous fluid precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of: a deep well pump; a service valve; a non-surge valve; and automatic control means for said non-surge valve, said service valve and said non-surge valve each having an inlet chamber communicating with the outlet of said pump and hence subject to the pressure developed by said pump, said service valve having an outlet chamber adapted to be connected with a pipe line and said non-surge valve having an outlet chamber communicating with the atmosphere, said automatic control means including a pressure-responsive pilot valve device operated by hydraulic pressure built up on the inlet side of said non-surge valve by said pump, said automatic control means being arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open while said gaseous fluid is being pumped through said nonsurge valve and to effect gradual closing of said non-surge valve when said pump starts to pump said liquid through said non-surge valve.

6. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of air precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of: a pump; a service check valve connected with the outlet of said pump; a service pipe connected with said service check valve; and means for venting said air pumped by said pump to the atmosphere to prevent its introduction into said service pipe, said means including a vent valve having an inlet chamber in communication with the outlet of said pump, said vent valve having a pressure chamber for operating fluid; and control means for controlling the exhaust of operating fluid from and the admission of operating fluid into said pressure chamber for effecting the opening and closing, respectively, of said vent valve in accordance with changes in the hydraulic pressure in said inlet chamber of said vent valve.

'7. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of air precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of: a pump; an automatic check valve; a hydraulically operable non-surge valve, said check valve and non-surge valve each having an inlet chamber in communication with the outlet of said pump, said check valve having an outlet chamber adapted to be connected with a service pipe and said non-surge valve having an outlet chamber communicating with the atmosphere; and automatic control means for said nonsurge valve, said automatic control means including pressureresponsive pilot valve means for controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to and from said hydraulically operable non-surge valve and being operable by changes in hydraulic pressure built up on the inlet side of said non-surge valve by said pump, said non-surge valve normally being open when said pump is idle, said control means being arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open while air is being pumped through said nonsurge valve and to eifect closing of said nonsurge valve when said pump starts to pump liquid through said non-surge valve, said check valve normally being closed while said pump is pumping air but being arranged to open automatically upon the closing of said non-surge valve and the building up of sufficient hydraulic pressure in the inlet chamber of said check valve to overcome the opposition to flow ofiered by said check valve.

8. In a water pumping system wherein a quantity of air precedes the flow of water, the combination of: a pump; a service valve; a non-surge valve; and automatic control means for said nonsurge valve, said service valve and said non-surge valve each having an inlet chamber communicating with the outlet of said pump and hence subject to the pressure developed by said pump, said automatic control means being pressureresponsive and connected with said inlet chamber of said non-surge valve so as to be operated by hydraulic pressure built up in the inlet chamber of said non-surge valve by said pump, said automatic control means being arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open while said air is being pumped through said non-surge valve and to effect closing of said non-surge valve when said pump starts to pump said water through said non-surge valve, said non-surge valve including adjustable means for limiting the extent of opening thereof so as to assure building up of hydraulic back-pressure in said inlet chamber, said service valve normally being closed while said pump is pumping said air but being adapted to be opened upon the closing of said non-surge valve.

9. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of gaseous fluid precedes the flow of liquid,

the combination of t a deep well centrifugal pump; a check valve; a non-surge, hydraulic-pressure responsive valve having a pressure chamber for operating fluid, said check valve and said nonsurge valve each having an inlet chamber in communication with the outlet of said pump and hence subject to the pressure developed by said pump; and a pressure-responsive control device subject to the pressure developed by said pump arranged to control the exhaust and admission of operating fluid to said pressure chamber so that said non-surge valve is open to the atmosphere when said pump is idle to permit said gaseous fluid to be pumped therethrough when said pump is started and is caused to close when said pump starts to pump said liquid and builds up a predetermined hydraulic pressure ln said inlet chamber of said non-surge valve, said check valve normally being closed when said pump is idle but being arranged to open automatically upon the closing of said non-surge valve and the ui g up of sufiicient hydraulic pressure by said pump to overcome the opposition to flow Offered by' said check valve.

10. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of gaseous fluid precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of: a pump; a service check valve; a non-surge valve, said service check valve and non-surge valve each having an inlet chamber in communication with the outlet of said pump, said non-surge valve having an outlet chamber communicating with the atmosphere and said service check valve having an outlet chamber adapted to communicate with a service pipe line; and automatic control means for said non-surge valve, said automatic control means including pilot valve means arranged to control the opening and closing of said non-surge valve in accordance with changes in hydraulic pressure on the inlet side of said non-surge valve, said service check valve being arranged to open automatically upon the closing of said non-surge valve and the building up of a predetermined hydraulic pressure on said inlet side of said service check valve.

11. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of air precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of a centrifugal pump; a check valve; a non-surge valve including a pressure chamber for operating fluid; and automatic control means for said non-surge valve, said check valve and said non-surge valve each having an inlet chamber communicating with the outlet of said pump, said automatic control means also communicating with the inlet chamber of said non-surge alve and being pressure-responsive and operable by hydraulic pressure built up in the inlet chamber of said non-surge valve by said pump to control the admission and exhaust of operating fluid from the pressure chamber of said non-surge valve, said non-surge valve normally being open when said pump is idle, said control means being arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open while said air is being pumped through said non-surge valve and to effect closing of said non-surge valve when said pump starts to pump said liquid through said non-surge valve, said check valve normally being closed while said pump is pumping said air but being arranged to open automatically upon the closing of said nonsurge valve and the building up of a suflicient hydraulic pressure in the inlet chamber of said check valve to overcome the resistance to flow offered by said check valve.

12. In a liquid pumping system wherein a. quantity of air precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of: a centrifugal pump; a check valve; a non-surge valve; and automatic control means for said non-surge valve, said check valve and said non-surge valve each having an inlet chamber communicating with the outlet of said centrifugal pump, said automatic control means being arranged to control the opening and closing of said non-surge valve in accordance with the hydraulic pressure changes in the inlet chamber of said non-surge valve, said automatic control means being adjustable to vary the maximum hydraulic pressure at which closing of said nonsurge valve is efiected.

13. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of air precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of: a pump; an automatic check valve; a non-surge valve; and automatic control means independent of said non-surge valve for controlling said non-surge valve, said check valve and said non-surge valve having inlet chambers communicating with the outlet of said pump, said automatic control means being pressure-responsive and operable by hydraulic pressure built up in the inlet chamber of said non-surge valve by said pump, said non-surge Valve normally being open when said pump is idle, said control means being arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open while said air is being pumped through said non-surge valve and to effect closing of said non-surge valve when said pump starts to pump said liquid through said non-surge valve, said check valve normally being closed while said pump is pumping said air but being arranged to open automatically upon the closing of said non-surge valve and the building up of sufficient hydraulic pressure in the inlet chamber of said check valve to overcome the resistance to flow offered by said check valve; and means in said non-surge valve tending to maintain said non-surge valve in open condition.

14. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of air precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of: a pump; an automatic check valve; a non-surge valve; automatic control means independent of said non-surge valve for controlling said non-surge valve, said check valve and said non-surge valve having inlet chambers communicating with the outlet of said pump, said automatic control means being pressure-responsive and operable by hydraulic pressure built up in the inlet chamber of said non-surge valve by said pump, said non-surge valve normally being open when said pump is idle, said control means being arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open while said air is being pumped through said non-surge valve and to effect closing of said non-surge valve when said pump starts to pump said liquid through said non-surge valve, said check valve normally being closed while said pump is pumping said air but being arranged to open automatically upon the closing of said nonsurge valve and the building up of sufiicient hydraulic pressure in the inlet chamber of said check valve to overcome the resistance to flow ofiered by said check valve; and means operatively associated with said control means for governing the rate of closing of said non-surge valve.

15. In a liquid pumping system wherein a quantity of air precedes the flow of liquid, the combination of: a pump; an automatic check valve; a non-surge valve; automatic control means for said non-surge valve, said check valve and said non-surge valve .having inlet chambers communicating with the outlet of said pump, said automatic control means being pressure-responsive and operable by hydraulic pressure built up in the inlet chamber of said non-surge valve by said pump, said non-surge valve normally being open when said pump is idle, said control means being arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open while said air is being pumped through said non-surge valve and to effect closing of said non-surge valve when said pump starts to pump said liquid through said nonsurge valve, said check valve normally being closed while said pump is pumping said air but being arranged to open automatically upon the closing of said non-surge valve and the building up of suflicient hydraulic pressure in the inlet chamber of said check valve to overcome the resistance of fiow offered by said check valve; and means operatively associated with said control means for preventing sudden opening of said non-surge valve upon a momentary drop in pressure in the inlet chamber of said non-surge valve.

16. Apparatus for pumping liquid from a well or the like wherein the flow of liquid is preceded by a quantity of air, comprising: a pump; a one-way check valve; a non-surge valve in- 6 eluding a diaphragm, said check valve and said non-surge diaphragm valve having inlet chambers in communication with the outlet of said pump, said check valve having an outlet chamber adapted to be connected with a service pipe line and said non-surge diaphragm valve having an outlet chamber communicating with the atmosphere, said non-surge diaphragm valve normally being open to the atmosphere when said pump is idle; and automatic control means for said non-surge diaphragm valve arranged to permit said air to be pumped through said nonsurge diaphragm valve when said pump is started and to cause said non-surge diaphragm valve to close gradually when said pump begins to pump liquid through said non-surge diaphragm valve and builds up a back pressure in the inlet chamber of said non-surge diaphragm valve, said control means including a pilot valve, and a pressure-responsive device for actuating said pilot valve, said pressure-responsive device communieating with said inlet chamber of said non-surge diaphragm valve and being operable in accordance with changes in hydraulic pressure in said inlet chamber, said pilot valve having a pressure chamber also communicating with said inlet chamber of said non-surge diaphragm valve and having a pilot disc in said pressure chamber actuable by said pressure-responsive device for controlling the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to said non-surge diaphragm valve in accordance with variations in hydraulic pressure in said inlet chamber of said non-surge diaphragm valve, said check valve normally being closed when said pump is idle but being arranged to automatically open upon the closing of said non-surge diaphragm valve and the building up of sufiicient hydraulic pressure by said pump to overcome the opposition to flow offered by said check valve.

17. Apparatus for pumping liquid from a well or the like wherein the flow of liquid is preceded by a quantity of air, comprising: a pump; a oneway check valve; a hydraulically operable nonsurge valve, said check valve and said non-surge 50 valve having inlet chambers in communication with the outlet of said pump, said check valve having an outlet chamber adapted to be connected with a service pipe line and said nonsurge valve having an outlet chamber communi- 55 eating with the atmosphere, said non-surge valve normally being open to the atmosphere when said pump is idle; and automatic control means for said non-surge valve arranged to permit air to be pumped through said non-surge valve when 60 said pump is started and to cause said non-surge valve to close gradually when said pump begins to pump liquid through said non-surge valve and builds up a back pressure in the inlet chamber of said non-surge valve, said control means ineluding a pilot valve, a pressure-responsive device for actuating said pilot valve, a conduit connecting said pressure-responsive device with said inlet chamber of said non-surge valve, whereby said pressure-responsive device is rendered operable in accordance with changes in hydraulic pressure in said inlet chamber, said pilot valve having a pressure chamber, a conduit for operating liquid under pressure connecting said pressure chamber with said inlet chamber of said non-surge valve, and a ported pilot disc in said pressure chamber actuable by said pressure-responsive device for controlling the admission and exhaust or said operating liquid to said non-surge valve in accordance with variations in hydraulic pressure in said inlet chamber of said non-surge valve, said check valve normally being closed when said pump is idle but being arranged to automatically open upon the closing of said nonsurge valve and the building up of suificient hydraulic pressure by said pump to overcome the opposition to flow ofiered by said check valve.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, in which the conduit connecting the inlet chamber of the hydraulically operated non-surge valve with the pressure responsive device includes a one-way bleeder check valve for preventing sudden opening of said non-surge valve upon a momentary drop in pressure in said inlet chamber.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, in which a needle valve is associated with the pilot valve to control the rate at which the hydraulically operable non-surge valve is closed.

20. Pumping apparatus for pumping liquid from a Well or the like wherein the fiow of liquid is preceded by a quantity of gaseous fluid, comprising: a pump; a service valve; a non-surge valve, each of said valves having an inlet chamber communicating with the outlet of said pump; and control means for said non-surge valve, said control means being arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open so long as said air is being pumped therethrough, to effect closing of said non-surge valve upon the pumping of liquid therethrough, and to again permit opening of said non-surge valve in the event of excessive hydraulic pressure on the inlet side of said non-surge valve.

21. In a water pumping system wherein a quancity of air precedes the flow of water, the combination of: a pump; a service valve; a non-surge valve; and automatic control means independent of said non-surge valve for controlling said non-surge valve, said service valve and said nonsurge valve each having an inlet chamber communicating with the outlet of said pump and hence subject to the pressure developed by said pump, said automatic control means being pressure-responsive and connected with said inlet chamber of said non-surge valve so as to be operated by hydraulic pressure built up in the inlet chamber of said non-surge valve by said pump, said automatic control means being arranged to permit said non-surge valve to remain open while said air is being pumped through said non-surge valve and to effect closing of said non-surge valve when said pump starts to pump said water through said non-surge valve, said service valve normally being closed while said pump is pumping said air but being adapted to be opened upon the closing of said non-surge valve.

DONALD G. GRISWOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,276,824 Carruthers 1- Mar. 17, 1942 1,147,401 Huttner July 20, 1915 1,717,812 Smith et al June 18, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 530,119 Germany July 31, 1931 560,549 France Oct. 5, 1923 805,051 France Nov. 10, 1936 

